To begin with, there is a big difference between actively timing feedings (which usually implies some limitation) and documenting about the feeding, one element of which might be approximately how long the infant nursed (along with observations such as deep jaw excursions, audible swallowing, mom's level of comfort-both physical and with the feeding in general).  The problem is when the time is made to appear to be the "be all and end all" of what constitutes a "good feeding".  Moms need to know that what happens at any one particular feeding is not what is important.  If a newborn ALWAYS nurses for just a minute or ALWAYS nurses for over an hour, then other factors would be looked at.
So the key isn't so much whether approximate length of feed is documented, but the overall attitude the mom gets regarding "timing".  In addition, moms need to be reassured that such record keeping is not something she needs to keep doing for as long as she nurses.  I have seem moms whose babies are doing just fine that are still recording every diaper and feeding even when baby is several months old!  These moms are doing a great job of mothering that record book.

Winnie

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